Asking the impossible??/

[v8will]

I've been usuing my Nc30 Honda on and off for commuting. Lovely little bike and although a bit thirsty and uncomfy its a bit nice to be using everyday.

Sooo, heres the Q, I need a commuter to do mega miles on (18k a year), for all year round use. I don't need anything fast, just very easy to run and tough. Problem is I only want to spend a couple of grand at most.

Should I;

1. Buy a 125, possible a new Yam YBR125, enjoy 90mpg and just run it into the ground over a couple of years? Surely it'd be good for 35000 miles before needing major attention.

2. Buy a cheaper older bike, maybe a 600 bandit and just live with the higher running costs but be in the same position and need new wheels in a couple of years time?

Remember I have the NC30 for fun and I also have a big fast barge of a car for shopping, very long trips etc.

Commuting is 60 miles daily round trip, A road but I have the option to go cross country (which would be less stress on a 125)

Thoughts please

[Charlie]

A Honda cbr600f sounds like what you need? Or maybe a Honda Cb500?
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Bendy]

Go for the middle ground, something a bit bigger than a 125 (prices inflated cos of learner demand) and smaller than a Bandit... think 250 or 500 commuter.

I'd buy a CB5 or similar, maybe even a CB250 type thing.

[sagalout]

I wouldn't want to do 60 miles a day on a 125!

I'd go for something like a CB500 if you want to keep the petrol costs low - ie a lowish powered twin.
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Current Bike: Triumph Speed Triple T309
Previous: CBR600F => ZX9R => Triumph Tiger => Honda Blackbird => GSXR 750 => Versys =>ZX12R

[Nyarlathotep]

Go for the cheaper, older bike option - bandit/fazer/cb500 etc.
60 miles per day on a 125 sounds like some kind of punishment.

[Whosthedaddy]

My initial thoughts were of an older style K series Beemer.

[Bendy]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Another vote for the CB500. You can pick up low mileage examples for around the grand if you're patient enough :-

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250301207538
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Charlie]

My Dad does similar sort of milage and he has a 51 (i think) Transalp. I think he said he gets 56mpg? That is a with a few mods to it though, k&n chopped off cat and dyno jetted. Although he fiddled with the screen for ages because it was really noisy.
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[garth]

Xj600n or diversion.

Cheap to buy, cheap to run, goes okay. If I nun it I can get 66mpg - that's 200 miles to reserve. I usually get mid fifties. Okay it is boring as sin, but it does the job.

Just hack the exhaust off, fit heated grips and you're away.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[veeeffarr]

Deauville.

[Shaun]

[garth]

[v8will]

Thanks for lots of varied answers!!

Well I'll be mothballing the Honda shortly for winter so I'll have a good look in the next few months and see what I can find.

Indeed a bigger bike will be the way forward, I just get tempted with 125 fuel economy sometimes.

[Shaun]

[sagalout]

[G]

[Kris]

[veeeffarr]

[Azonicben]

Doing my Das at the moment been doing that sort of milage for the past few days The kwaka Er-5 is comfy and pokey enough for commuting
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[iooi]

[supersports]

i wouldn't get a ybr instead of a bandit, if you can get the bandit cheaper then get that,i think that 125's are way too expensive new these days. Yzf-£3000, cbr £2400 when you can buy some old bandit for about a third of that price, maybe not even that old. either way get the bandit.

[Blau Zedong]

[supersports]

whats your problem can't an opinion be expressed

[Blau Zedong]